NAMI/Family-to-Family Class

NAMI Mendocino is a grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization comprised of families and friends of people living with mental health challenges, clients, professionals and members of the community.

It supports people who are living with mental health challenges, have a friend or family member living with mental health issues, feel alone and isolated and need information about mental illness, local services and support. It is a volunteer organization, not funded by any person or entity.

Donna Moschetti, NAMI secretary, teacher and support group facilitator, says NAMI is again offering a free, 12-week class, Family-to-Family, for family members of individuals struggling with mental illness beginning Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in Ukiah.

She and Jan McGourty, NAMI board member and teacher, will be facilitating the educational class that covers discussions on how to make local contacts, become advocates and about day-to-day living.

Each week a different topic will be covered: symptoms of major mental illness, medications and side effects, empathy, self-care, communication skills, crisis interventions, setting limits.

Each meeting builds on the previous one, and participants will have a binder of resources at the conclusion. The weekly meetings provide opportunities to learn with others who are going through similar life experiences.

Mel Lockey, chairman of NAMI, says, "The class helps you understand not only what the person with the mental illness is going through, but how it affects the whole extended family."

McGourty says the classes are for parents, children, siblings or friends who are affected by someone with a mental illness. "You're always living on eggshells, always waiting for the next crisis when everybody's life is going to be turned upside down. It's life changing; it's chronic and there's a pandemic lack of agency support, both locally and nationally. The jail is our default mental health institution, and the emergency room is the door."

Lockey talks about the stigma attached and the denial. "Everyone knows someone who has been affected by mental illness, either personally or a loved one or friend. It's not talked about; it's a taboo subject.

"If someone says he has cancer, people are sympathetic; if someone says he has a mental illness, it's a whole different thing. It's not treated like a physical ailment. It's something people don't understand; even doctors don't fully know how to effectively treat it.

"When I took the class it helped me to connect with those who were in a similar situation; it's different than being with other friends. When you are going through hell it's good to be with people who know the territory. I no longer feel so alone. Learning about self- care has been huge."

As a teacher, Moschetti says it is inspiring to watch participants as they get their "aha" moment, go from being demur to getting into it and wanting to learn more. "Each person takes away what he or she needs," she says.

McGourty, disturbed by the lack of mental health services available locally, has turned her anger into advocacy. "Early prevention is extremely important as is listening to family members and having adequate after care. We all come from a similar place, the disasters, the emotional roller coaster, the anxiety and depression. It comes down to where you become an advocate. We were helped and we want to help others; that's what we can do for our community."

Good psychiatrists, team support networks, determining the right combination of medications, compliancy to prescriptions, family support and acceptance of the disease are essential for recovery as is understanding the societal stigma toward those who are mentally ill.

"When an individual goes through a mental health crisis, comes out of it and realizes what he or she did, it can be really embarrassing. It takes an open empathetic society to help them deal with what they have done, so they won't be judged," says McGourty.

"Being willing to talk about it opens up the road to recovery and hope for those with mental illness. With proper support, individuals can be stabilized. Many people are unaware of mental illness and/or don't want to deal with it. It's a disease of the brain; it's invisible; it's nobody's fault; and it's important that society as a whole look at it as a shared issue. NAMI is here to create a more positive outcome; we are about support, advocacy and education," Moschetti says.

For class location, call Donna Moschetti at 391 6867 or Jan McGourty at 468-8632. Enrollment is limited to 20 participants. Website is www.namimendocino.org. The Coast Family Support Group meets on the first Thursday of the month from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at 201 E. First St. (at Franklin). Call 937-3339 for more information.